Claire Hughes has been named as the head of Pinsent Masons’ global real estate sector. Edwards succeeds James Crookes, who will continue to lead the firm’s property practice group. She has been with the firm since 2007, and has been head of client relationships for the firm’s real estate sector and head of the London property practice for over 8 years.
Eversheds Sutherland partner and head of hedge funds Ben Watford has left the firm to join Haynes and Boone. Watford has spent the last four years at Eversheds, according to his LinkedIn profile. His practice focuses on the structuring and establishment of onshore and offshore investment funds in various jurisdictions.
Russell-Cooke has hired Frances Murray as a partner to its fraud and criminal litigation team. Based in London, Murray joins from Rosenblatt where she has spent the last two years according to her LinkedIn. Her experience lies in representing both corporate and high net worth clients in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters.
Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed partner Sylwia Maria Bea as its new EMEA co-head of financial restructuring and insolvency. Partner in the firm’s Frankfurt office, Bea joins current EMEA co-head James Stonebridge who works out of the firm’s London office. She has significant experience advising management, shareholders and investors of distressed companies on insolvency proceedings. Bea has spent the last two years as partner at the firm according to her LinkedIn profile.
Browne Jacobson has appointed its next head and deputy heads of offices for its Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester bases. The appointments are for a three year term. The firm’s Birmingham office will be jointly led by partners Rachel Lyne and Mike Jackson, in Exeter partner Nigel Lyons will lead, partner and head of commercial and intellectual property Declan Cushley has been re-appointed as head of London and partner Peter Allen has been appointed head of Manchester. The firm has also appointed partners Kay Chand, Ian Long and Rob Wofinden to a new Nottingham office board.
Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Helen Hopkin as the firm’s first director of global workforce strategy and implementation. Based in London, Hopkin joins the firm from PwC where she held various operational and HR director roles for over two decades. The newly created role will focus on developing a clear workforce strategy “that meets the firm’s current and future needs”, according to a firm statement.
Ince announced the promotion of four partners in May, with two in its London office, as well as one each in Shanghai and Cardiff. In London, William Spencer was promoted to partner in the real estate team, and Peter McNamee was promoted in Ince’s shipping team. Meanwhile, Zeldar Wang, based in the firm’s Shanghai office, was also promoted to partner – the lawyer specialises in maritime, commodities & trade, and commercial disputes. In Cardiff, Jessie Blain [pictured] was also promoted as member of the real estate and commercial property team.
Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Helen Hopkin as the firm’s first director of global workforce strategy and implementation. Based in London, Hopkin joins the firm from PwC where she held various operational and HR director roles for over two decades. The newly created role will focus on developing a clear workforce strategy “that meets the firm’s current and future needs”, according to a firm statement.
Claire Hughes has been named as the head of Pinsent Mason’s global real estate sector. Edwards succeeds James Crookes, who will continue to lead the firm’s property practice group. She has been with the firm since 2007, and has been head of client relationships for the firm’s real estate sector and head of the London property practice for over 8 years.
Eversheds Sutherland partner and head of hedge funds Ben Watford has left the firm to join Haynes and Boone. Watford has spent the last four years at Eversheds, according to his LinkedIn profile. His practice focuses on the structuring and establishment of onshore and offshore investment funds in various jurisdictions.
Russell-Cooke has hired Frances Murray as a partner to its fraud and criminal litigation team. Based in London, Murray joins from Rosenblatt where she has spent the last two years according to her LinkedIn. Her experience lies in representing both corporate and high net worth clients in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters.
Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed partner Sylwia Maria Bea as its new EMEA co-head of financial restructuring and insolvency. Partner in the firm’s Frankfurt office, Bea joins current EMEA co-head James Stonebridge who works out of the firm’s London office. She has significant experience advising management, shareholders and investors of distressed companies on insolvency proceedings. Bea has spent the last two years as partner at the firm according to her LinkedIn profile.
Hogan Lovells has hired former Latham & Watkin and Clifford Chance head of APAC technology practice Luke Grubb, where he spent 14 and three years respectively, according to his Linkedin profile. Based in the firms London office, he joins the firms digital assets and blockchain practice as a consultant.
Irwin Mitchell has expanded its wealth management team with the acquisition of Cheshire based TWP Wealth. The firm has acquired 10 employees, who will remain in their current office, and no redundancies will take place as a result of the acquisition. The addition will expand Irwin Mitchell’s financial services and financial planning to both private and corporate clients capabilities. IM Asset Management currently has £1 billion assets under management, with acquisition adding a further £100 million.
Browne Jacobson has appointed its next head and deputy heads of offices for its Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester bases. The appointments are for a three year term. The firm’s Birmingham office will be jointly led by partners Rachel Lyne and Mike Jackson, in Exeter partner Nigel Lyons will lead, partner and head of commercial and intellectual property Declan Cushley has been re-appointed as head of London and partner Peter Allen has been appointed head of Manchester. The firm has also appointed partners Kay Chand, Ian Long and Rob Wofinden to a new Nottingham office board.
Addleshaw Goddard boosted its tax and restructuring practice with the hire of Zoe Fatchen from Gowling WLG to its London office. Fatchen has a wide range of corporate tax experience across both UK and multinational clients – including complex structuring advice, risk management, contentious taxation and disputes, and cross-border deployment of capital.
Ince announced the promotion of four partners in May, with two in its London office, as well as one each in Shanghai and Cardiff. In London, William Spencer was promoted to partner in the real estate team, and Peter McNamee was promoted in Ince’s shipping team. Meanwhile, Zeldar Wang, based in the firm’s Shanghai office, was also promoted to partner – the lawyer specialises in maritime, commodities & trade, and commercial disputes. In Cardiff, Jessie Blain was also promoted as member of the real estate and commercial property team.
Osborne Clarke continues to expand its international tax team, appointing incentives specialist partner Anika Chandra. Chandra has joined the firm’s London office from Shoosmiths, where she was a partner and headed the incentives practice, having previously worked at Stephenson Harwood, Allen & Overy and CMS. She will work closely with Michael Carter, who heads Osborne Clarke’s incentives team, which is part of the firm’s broader nine-partner U.K. tax practice.
